Bloomberg’s Game

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AROUND CITY HALL about Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plans to redevelop the West Side of Manhattan by constructing a football stadium and convention center. Also discusses New York’s bid to host the 2012 Olympics and the upcoming Mayoral election… The idea of situating a seventy-five thousand-seat sports arena in the heart of Manhattan has enraged many New Yorkers… Bloomberg’s emergence as a polarizing figure has surprised many in the political world. Writer asks Bloomberg to assess his mayorality. By numerical measures such as commercial vacancy rates and real estate prices, Bloomberg says, “you have to say we’re doing O.K.”… Bloomberg is less parochial than most mayors. Like many businessmen who travel a lot, he thinks globally. Of the proposed stadium and redevelopment on the West Side, he says, “It’s probably the single most important economic-development project in the city.” Tells about a rival bid for the stadium site made by Cablevision and about the criticisms made by James Dolan of the Mayor’s plan… The stadium also needs the approval of a pair of upstate politicians: Joseph Bruno and Sheldon Silver. It is looking increasingly like Bloomberg will have to fight for reelection with the ultimate fate of the stadium unresolved… Tells about the changes Bloomberg has made to New York City schools, including ending “social promotion.” Writer accompanies the Mayor to a library opening at P.S. 17… The main difference between running a company and running a city, Bloomberg says, is the level of scrutiny he receives from the City Council. “In business, innovation is a lot easier.” Tells about how Bloomberg balanced the city’s budget after taking power in 2002. He cut some services, raised the tax on cigarettes and hiked property taxes. Bloomberg was being fiscally responsible, but he paid politically. This year Bloomberg was able to announce that the city will end fiscal 2005 with a surplus of nearly two billion dollars. Discusses Bloomberg’s reasons for supporting the stadium plan. “If we don’t build these things, we are not going to have the tax revenues to pay the municipal workforce.” The city’s total commitment to the West Side could end up exceeding three billion dollars. He argues that the convention business will provide service jobs that are not seasonal. Discusses the role of deputy mayor Daniel Doctoroff in the stadium plan and the city’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. Many opponents of the stadium support the Olympic bid. One of them is Richard Ravitch who says the stadium will result in a fiscal crisis for the city. Briefly tells about the Mayor’s plan to curb homelessness in the city. Also briefly talks about his re-election campaign. Given the Mayor’s virtually unlimited campaign budget, he is sure to be a formidable candidate…